I’ll be revisiting this list every Thursday until the start of the season.
Richmond
FB: Jordan McMahon, Will Thursfield, Kelvin Moore
HB: Chris Newman, Luke McGuane, Andrew Raines
C: Matthew Richardson, Shane Tuck, Daniel Jackson
HF: Joel Bowden, Cleve Hughes, Brett Deledio
FF: Mitch Morton, Jack Riewoldt, Nathan G. Brown
Fol: Troy Simmonds, Kane Johnson, Nathan Foley
Int: Adam Pattison, Richard Tambling, Matt White, Shane Edwards
In: Raines, Tambling
Out: Jay Schulz, Trent Cotchin
Iffy: Jackson, Tambling, White, Edwards
Waiting: Adam Thomson, Jake King, Ben Cousins, Schulz
No no no, I am still not putting Cuz in. The Richmond Football Club did not draft Ben Cousins just to drag him over the white line in Round 1 and then watch him pull a hammy in the second quarter. He’s there to support their run to the finals in the second half of the season. 20,000 extra punters on the opening Thursday is worth far less than the 20,000 extra they will get every game if they are top 4 in August. Meanwhile, Schulz looked awful on Subiaco, while Raines looked dazzling and Tambling did enough.
Carlton
FB: Chris A. Johnson, Michael Jamison, Bret Thornton
HB: Paul Bower, Jarrad Waite, Heath Scotland
C: Adam Bentick, Chris Judd, Kade Simpson
HF: Ryan Houlihan, Matthew Kreuzer, Andrew Walker
FF: Eddie Betts, Brendan Fevola, Chris Yarran
Fol: Cameron Cloke, Bryce Gibbs, Marc Murphy
Int: Shaun Hampson, Richard Hadley, Shaun Grigg, Mitch Robinson
In: nil
Out: nil
Iffy: Scotland, Bentick, Grigg, Johnson
Waiting: Jordan Russell, Jordan Bannister, Jake Edwards, Joe Anderson
It’s about time there was a quiet news week down at Cardboard Park!
Hawthorn
FB: Brent Guerra, Stephen Gilham, Thomas Murphy
HB: Luke Hodge, Campbell Brown, Grant Birchall
C: Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Clinton Young
HF: Cyril Rioli, Lance Franklin, Stuart Dew
FF: Mark Williams, Jarryd Roughead, Michael Osborne
Fol: Robert Campbell, Brad Sewell, Chance Bateman
Int: Simon Taylor, Mitch Thorp, Travis Tuck, Ben McGlynn
In: nil
Out: nil
Iffy: Campbell, Hodge, Lewis, McGlynn
Waiting: Brent Renouf, Jarryd Morton, Josh P. Kennedy, Cameron Stokes
Another week of not much coming out of the Hawthorn camp. The only change here is the poor prognosis on Lewis by injuryupdate.com.au, which claims he won’t play until round 3 – though they don’t list the known injuries to Ellis, Hodge and Campbell, amongst others, so I am not treating it as gospel.
Geelong
FB: Josh Hunt, Matthew Scarlett, Harry Taylor
HB: Darren Milburn, Andrew Mackie, Joel Corey
C: Corey Enright, Joel Selwood, Jimmy Bartel
HF: Steve Johnson, Cameron Mooney, Paul Chapman
FF: Ryan Gamble, Tom Lonergan, Mathew Stokes
Fol: Brad Ottens, Gary Ablett jnr, Cameron Ling
Int: Mark Blake, Simon Hogan, David Wojcinski, Max Rooke
In: nil
Out: nil
Iffy: Hogan, Gamble, Wojcinski, Milburn
Waiting: James Kelly, Shannon Byrnes, Tom Hawkins, Dan McKenna
The only change here is positional, with Corey shifted to a half back flank and Enright to a wing, with Ling in the rover slot. Not that it means a lot in today’s footy.
Collingwood
FB: Heath Shaw, Nathan J. Brown, Tyson Goldsack
HB: Marty Clarke, Ben Reid, Harry O’Brien
C: Alan Didak, Scott Pendlebury, Tarkyn Lockyer
HF: Leon Davis, Travis Cloke, Dale Thomas
FF: Sean Rusling, John Anthony, Anthony Corrie
Fol: Josh Fraser, Shane O’Bree, Dane Swan
Int: Cameron Wood, Sharrod Wellingham, Shannon Cox, Ben Johnson
In: Cox
Out: Nick Maxwell
Iffy: Anthony, Wellingham, Cox, Corrie
Waiting: Anthony Rocca, Paul Medhurst, Dayne Beams, Simon Prestigiacomo
The suspension of Maxwell solidifies Reid’s claims as one of the three defensive talls, but with Adelaide likely to emphasise height in its forward line there’s every chance Presti could come in to do a job, like the one he did on Kurt Tippett in the final last year on one leg. In favour of the two younger KP backs Reid and Cox is the fact that the forwards they would be matching up on would also be young, particularly if Walker is named.
Adelaide
FB: Graham Johncock, Ben Rutten, Scott Stevens
HB: Andrew McLeod, Nathan Bock, Brad Moran
C: David Mackay, Scott Thompson, Chris Knights
HF: Simon Goodwin, Nick Gill, Richard Douglas
FF: Tyson Edwards, Kurt Tippett, Jason Porplyzia
Fol: Ivan Maric, Nathan Van Berlo, Brent Reilly
Int: Jonathon Griffin, Michael Doughty, Robert Shirley, Bernie Vince
In: Moran
Out: Aaron Kite
Iffy: Rutten, Van Berlo, Gill, Griffin
Waiting: Taylor Walker, Aaron Kite, Jared Petrenko, Patrick Dangerfield
Just quietly, the Adelaide injury curse is starting early this year, with Rutten and Van Berlo adding month-long pre-season injuries to that of Brad Symes. In other years we could conceivably have blamed the hard track regimen of Neil Craig but this year’s it’s just bad luck. With Maric unassailed as #1 ruckman the #2 spot is still up for grabs, with Griffin fighting with a pinch-hitting combination of Moran and Tippett to allow an extra midfielder. No, Walker is still not in the side, but if Collingwood look like they’re not going to have three good tall backs then his odds firm considerably.
Brisbane
FB: Lachie Henderson, Daniel Merrett, Joel Macdonald
HB: Josh Drummond, Joel Patfull, Jed Adcock
C: Tim Notting, Bradd Dalziell, Travis Johnstone
HF: Luke Power, Jonathan Brown, Jared Brennan
FF: Mitch Clark, Daniel Bradshaw, Rhan Hooper
Fol: Matthew Leuenberger, Simon Black, Michael Rischitelli
Int: Jamie Charman, Ashley McGrath, Troy Selwood, Daniel Rich
In: Clark
Out: Tom Collier
Iffy: Charman, Leuenberger, McGrath, Selwood
Waiting: Collier, Albert Proud, Jason Roe, Cheynee Stiler
Leigh Matthews never rated ruckmen very highly – a legacy of playing next to Don Scott for years, no doubt – but even he would have had second thoughts about the situation that faces Michael Voss now: all five of the Lions ruckmen are currently injured. Brennan can not carry the ruck like he did on Saturday. Clark showed enough that he is now favourite for the #3 forward tall, with possibly some ruck duties as well. Brisbane still won the clearances despite losing the ruck taps 61-12, so maybe Lethal has a point!
West Coast
FB: Brett Jones, Darren Glass, Mark Nicoski
HB: Shannon Hurn, Beau Wilkes, Adam Selwood
C: Andrew Embley, Daniel Kerr, Chris Masten
HF: David Wirrpanda, Mitchell Brown, Ashley Hansen
FF: Ben McKinley, Quinten Lynch, Mark LeCras
Fol: Dean Cox, Matt Priddis, Tyson Stenglein
Int: Mark Seaby, Brad Ebert, Chad Fletcher, Brent Staker
In: nil
Out: nil
Iffy: Wilkes, Hansen, Stenglein, Staker
Waiting: Josh J. Kennedy, Jamie McNamara, Matt Rosa, Matthew Spangher
A week of licking wounds down at Subi.
St Kilda
FB: Matt Maguire, Max Hudghton, Farren Ray
HB: Raphael Clarke, Sam Fisher, Brendon Goddard
C: Jason Gram, Lenny Hayes, Leigh Montagna
HF: Jason Blake, Nick Riewoldt, Sam Gilbert
FF: Stephen Milne, Justin Koschitzke, Adam Schneider
Fol: Steven King, Nick Dal Santo, Luke Ball
Int: Michael Gardiner, Jarryn Geary, Clinton Jones, Steven Baker
In: Geary
Out: Robert Eddy
Iffy: Ray, Geary, Jones, Baker
Waiting: David Armitage, Sean Dempster, Tom Lynch, Eddy
Geary is an anonymous accumulator. Fantasy coaches wondering who is going to step into the Robert Harvey role are going to have to watch NAB Challenge reports to see if he’s mentioned over Jones or Armitage.
Sydney
FB: Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Craig Bolton, Paul Bevan
HB: Nick Malceski, Ted Richards, Martin Mattner
C: Amon Buchanan, Brett Kirk, Rhyce Shaw
HF: Jarred Moore, Ryan O’Keefe, Jarrad McVeigh
FF: Patrick Veszpremi, Barry Hall, Heath Grundy
Fol: Darren Jolly, Jude Bolton, Adam Goodes
Int: Jesse White, Craig Bird, Jared Crouch, Kieren Jack
In: Bird
Out: Michael O’Loughlin
Iffy: Grundy, Shaw, Crouch, Bird
Waiting: Daniel Currie, Ed Barlow, Luke Ablett, Daniel O’Keefe
There were some signs of life in Sin City this week. Micky O admitted that he wouldn’t be right for round 1, while Leo Barry was put on the long-term injury list. It was also let slip that Currie has had an interrupted preseason, with White testing in drills for ruck and defence and Canadian rugby convert Mike Pyke being tried in the NAB this week against the Power in the ruck. Barry’s injury leaves the door open for a rookie elevation, and while it would be exciting to see a Canadian play senior AFL, fantasy coaches would be hoping to see Kristin Thornton‘s name more prominent in such discussions. With Jake Orreal also set to play against Port at Manuka, that game will be closely monitored for fantasy ruck bench potential, particularly in Super Coach.
Melbourne
FB: Paul Wheatley, Stefan Martin, Colin Garland
HB: Matthew Whelan, Jared Rivers, Simon Buckley
C: Brad Green, Brock McLean, Matthew Bate
HF: Cameron Bruce, Brad Miller, Aaron Davey
FF: Colin Sylvia, Michael Newton, Austin Wonaeamirri
Fol: Paul Johnson, Cale Morton, Nathan Jones
Int: Mark Jamar, James McDonald, Lynden Dunn, Brent Moloney
In: nil
Out: nil
Iffy: Rivers, Newton, Dunn, Moloney
Waiting: Addam Maric, Ricky Petterd, Jack Grimes, James Frawley
With Rivers rolling his ankle at the Demons intra-club this week, it seems there’s no stopping the string of injuries that keep him from being 100% match fit. If he does miss extended periods there’s not a whole ot of senior experience in the shed with Nathan Carroll retired, which is why it was good to hear that Frawley was one of the most impressive in the praccy, particularly with his run-and-carry. Doubt still surrounds a lot of this team, so we should know more after the Launceston game this week.
North Melbourne
FB: Daniel Pratt, Michael Firrito, Josh Gibson
HB: Jesse W. Smith, Drew Petrie, Gavin Urquhart
C: Adam Simpson, Daniel Harris, Daniel Wells
HF: Matt Campbell, Lachie Hansen, Lindsay Thomas
FF: Corey Jones, David Hale, Ben Ross
Fol: Hamish McIntosh, Brady Rawlings, Brent Harvey
Int: Andrew Swallow, Sam Power, Scott McMahon, Leigh Harding
In: nil
Out: nil
Iffy: Ross, Urquhart, McMahon, Swallow
Waiting: Jack Ziebell, Josh Smith, Ed Lower, Scott D. Thompson
Further media snippets this week confirm that Hansen will be started at centre half forward in the absence of Aaron Edwards. Ziebell also got talked up by Pratt in the press, though I am not trusting that as an ironclad endorsement just yet.
Port Adelaide
FB: Michael Pettigrew, Alipate Carlile, Mitch Farmer
HB: Peter Burgoyne, Troy Chaplin, Domenic Cassisi
C: Travis Boak, Chad Cornes, Kane Cornes
HF: David Rodan, Justin Westhoff, Danyle Pearce
FF: Daniel Motlop, Warren Tredrea, Brett Ebert
Fol: Dean Brogan, Steven Salopek, Shaun Burgoyne
Int: Brendon Lade, Josh Carr, Paul Stewart, Robbie Gray
In: nil
Out: nil
Iffy: Farmer, Stewart, Gray, Salopek
Waiting: Jacob Surjan, Nick Salter, Marlon Motlop, Jason Davenport
Another team we will know more about after this week’s NAB games.
Essendon
FB: Sam Lonergan, Dustin Fletcher, Jay Nash
HB: Adam McPhee, Patrick Ryder, Andrew Lovett
C: Kyle Reimers, Jobe Watson, Bachar Houli
HF: Jay Neagle, Scott Lucas, Scott Gumbleton
FF: Alwyn Davey, Matthew Lloyd, Leroy Jetta
Fol: David Hille, Brent Stanton, Mark McVeigh
Int: Tom Bellchambers, David Myers, Hayden Skipworth, Angus Monfries
In: Skipworth
Out: Michael Hurley
Iffy: Nash, Lonergan, Neagle, Myers
Waiting: Tayte Pears, Ricky Dyson, Courtenay Dempsey, Michael Hurley
Skippy has to be picked after that NAB performance, and Hurley is the odd man out in my estimation due to his gall bladder surgery. I know he is due to regain health before the start of the season, but he’s more likely to be eased into the game with an easy stint at Bendigo first.
Fremantle
FB: Michael Johnson, Antoni Grover, Marcus Drum
HB: David Mundy, Luke McPharlin, Roger Hayden
C: Garrick Ibbotson, Paul Hasleby, Byron Schammer
HF: Kepler Bradley, Matthew Pavlich, Daniel Gilmore
FF: Chris Mayne, Chris Tarrant, Des Headland
Fol: Aaron Sandilands, Rhys Palmer, Ryan Crowley
Int: Brett Peake, Stephen Hill, Steven Dodd, Clayton Hinkley
In: Hill
Out: Andrew Foster
Iffy: Peake, Hinkley, Hill, Drum
Waiting: Scott Thornton, Josh Head, Nick Suban, Greg Broughton
It is against my better judgment to keep Peake in this side, but he did increase his workrate in the last quarter of the NAB game against Richmond, and that may save his skin. Foster Browne failed to impress. Suban doesn’t have to pass much to get into this 22, to be brutally honest.
Western Bulldogs
FB: Lindsay Gilbee, Brian Lake, Dale Morris
HB: Ryan Hargrave, Tom Williams, Andrejs Everitt
C: Ryan Griffen, Daniel Cross, Nathan Eagleton
HF: Robert Murphy, Mitch Hahn, Daniel Giansiracusa
FF: Shaun Higgins, Brad Johnson, Jarrad Grant
Fol: Ben Hudson, Adam Cooney, Matthew Boyd
Int: Will Minson, Callan Ward, Dylan Addison, Josh Hill
In: nil
Out: nil
Iffy: Eagleton, Everitt, Hill, Ward
Waiting: Tim Callan, Jarrod Harbrow, Sam Reid, Stephen Tiller
Another blessed week of no new injuries for the Bulldogs.
I think I’ve ironed out about half of the kinks you complained about during last week, but I am still not budging on Cousins or Walker. Don’t believe the hype! Or, believe it and tell me why I’m wrong in the comments.
